| This study proposes a method for evaluating development projects that utilize tax increment finance, on the basis of economic, tax, redevelopment, and employment impacts.;The study finds that: (1) TIF subsidies often constituted more than 10 percent of the project's total funding; (2) Public agencies are retaining more of the incremental real estate taxes and replacing them with more speculative taxes; (3) TIF projects are often applied in high-value areas rather than in truly blighted areas; (4) TIF projects often shifted jobs from one location within the county to another, rather than contributing new jobs.;The study analyzes the use of tax increment finance in Pittsburgh from 1994 to 1999, focusing on important pre-development criteria to judge how successfully these projects meet public objectives. |
